Scald shield

ABSTRACT

A device designed to prevent scalding of the hands of a person servicing an overheated automobile radiator or the like, said device having substantially the form of an apron being made of steam resisting sheet material, and comprising suction cups to fasten it to the top of the radiator hood, gravity means at the bottom of the sheet to hold it in place against the force of the wind, a pouch to hold a towel or asbestos glove and to surround and protect the hand of the user, and one or more vertical slots in said sheet to permit the insertion of the hand of the user to release the safety latch of the hood. The pouch is so constructed that it permits the hand of the user to reach for the radiator cap and to unscrew the same while the pouch surrounds his hand.

United States Patent Friend SCALD SHIELD [72] Inventor: Thomas Albert Frlend, 7934 E. 4th Ave.,

Mesa,Ariz. 85208 22 Filed: Sept. 23, 1970 21 Appl. No; 74,646

[451 Apr. 4, 1972 Primary Examiner-Benjamin Hersh Assistant Examiner-Winston l-l. Douglas Attorney-A. John Michel [57] ABSTRACT A device designed to prevent scalding of the hands of a person servicing an overheated automobile radiator or the like, said device having substantially the form of an apron being made of steam resisting sheet material, and comprising suction cups to fasten it to the top of the radiator hood, gravity means at the bottom of the sheet to hold it in place against the force of the wind, a pouch to hold a towel or asbestos glove and to surround and protect the hand of the user, and one or more vertical slots in said sheet to permit the insertion of the hand of the user to release the safety latch of the hood. The pouch is so constructed that it permits the hand of the user to reach for the radiator cap and to unscrew the same while the pouch surrounds his hand.

I I 1 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures SCALD SHIELD This invention relates to new and useful improvements in safety devices, and more particularly to a safety device designed to prevent burning or scalding when servicing overheated water-cooled internal combustion engines.

It is known that whenever a water-cooled internal combustion engine overheats, and when the radiator cap is removed therefrom, there is considerable danger of the steam in the radiator, which is under pressure, scalding the hands of the person removing the cap.

it is therefore an object of this invention to provide a device which will prevent such accidents.

The above and other objects and advantages of this invention will be more readily understood from the following detailed description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which FIG. 1 shows a bottom plan view of the invention;

FlG. 2 shows a side elevation view of the invention; and

FIG. 3 shows how the invention is used in connection with an automotive vehicle.

Referring now to the drawings in more detail; there is shown an apron-like sheet or shield of heat resistant material material having a length sufficient to reach from the top of the hood of an automotive vehicle, when said hood is open, to an area just above the bumper of said vehicle. The width of the sheet 10 is sufficient to reach across the width of the car radiator. To insure that the apron or shield 10 will remain in a substantially vertical position in case of the wind blowing against it, there is provided, at the bottom of the shield, a crossmember 12 which may preferably have a circular cross section, and may be made of any material having a specific gravity greater than about 1.5.

Vertical slits 17 are provided in the shield 10 to permit the hand of the user to reach and release the safety latch of the hood in a protected manner, and to open the hood.

A pocket or pouch 15 is provided at a suitable distance above the bottom of the shield, said pocket being adapted to hold means such as an asbestos glove or a small towel 16 for the purpose of surrounding the hand of the auto mechanic or other person to protect the hand while such person unscrews the radiator cap of the hot radiator. The hand protecting means 16 may be made of any bulky fabric such as terry cloth or the like, and it may consist of two layers for further effective insulation. Further, the means 16 may be removable from the pouch, or it may be integral therewith. The numerals 20 and 22 indicate two conventional suction cups, made of rubber or the like, and which are adapted to fasten the shield 10 to the top of the hood 24.

Referring now more particularly to FIG. 3 of the drawings, there is shown a front view of an automotive vehicle having applied to the hood of the vehicle an embodiment of the invention comprising generally an apron-like piece of flexible material which may preferably consist of a strong plastic sheet such as vinylite or the like.

It will be seen that in case the radiator of an automotive vehicle is overheating, it will only be necessary for the motorist or mechanic to apply the shield 10 to the top of the hood 24 by means of suction cups 20 and 22, raise the hood, release the safety latch of the hood by inserting his hand through one of the slots 17, seize the towel or asbestos glove 16, or alternately keep his entire hand in the insulated pouch 15, and with the hand thus protected, unscrew the radiator cap. Any steam issuing from the radiator will be stopped by the shield 10 which will thus prevent any scalding or burning of the person removing the radiator cap.

Various modifications of the present invention may be effected in a manner limited only by the following claim:

I claim:

1. A scald shield for use with an overheated water-cooled radiator, said shield comprising, in combination, a a sheet of steam proof material, means for fastening said shield to the top side of the hood of an automotive vehicle, means for preventing the wind from blowing said sheet away from a substantially vertical position, a pocket or pouch in said shield, said pouch being adapted to receive insulating fabric means for protecting the hand of the shield user, slot means in said shield, said slot means permitting the insertion of the hand of said shield user to release the safety latch of the hood, and said pouch being adapted to permit the protected hand of the user to unscrew the radiator cap. 

1. A scald shield for use with an overheated water-cooled radiator, said shield comprising, in combination, a a sheet of steam proof material, means for fastening said shield to the top side of the hood of an automotive vehicle, means for preventing the wind from blowing said sheet away from a substantially vertical position, a pocket or pouch in said shield, said pouch being adapted to receive insulating fabric means for protecting the hand of the shield user, slot means in said shield, said slot means permitting the insertion of the hand of said shield user to release the safety latch of the hood, and said pouch being adapted to permit the protected hand of the user to unscrew the radiator cap. 